Washing machine



00;. 10, 1944. 1 E. FRANTZ 2,359,836

WASHING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Arro NE) E Oct. 10, 1944. FRANTZ WASHING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mu; 5- F'E'A/VTZ Oct. 10, 1944. P. E. FRANTZ WASHING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 jig-12 PAUL E'- FRA/VTZ I u u Afro/Ewar- P. E. FRANTZ 2,359,836

WASHING MACHINE Oct. 10, 1944.-

-Filed April 4, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. FAUZ PEA/V72 MAMA/15mph A 770 zewsr Patented Oct. 10, 1M4

WASHING meme Paul E. Frantz, Euclid Ohio, assignor 'to The Apex Elec Manufacturing Company,

Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 4, 1942, Serial No. 437,619

8 (Cl. 68-134) I sheet metal blades mounted on said base wherein This invention relates to a washing machine and more particularly an oscillating agitator for such a machine.

For a number of years domestic washing ma- .chines have included a tub for .holding the clothes and washing fluid and an agitator mounted in said tub provided with means to oscillate the agitator so as to cause fluid currents and a flexing of the clothes effecting a washing thereof. Because of the moisture and temperature conditions under which the agitator was designed to operate, the industry has adopted as an agitator a cast or molded article, the material being one resistant to the detergents used in the washing, resistant to sudden temperature changes and which possessed sumcient strength to move the clothes and water to efiect washing. Aluminum, zinc and similar light metals have enjoyed wide popularity in this conmotion and phenolithic resins or like plastics have also been used to make a molded agitator. 'Both the light metal cast agitators and the sheet steel.

According to my invention I have provided an agitator and a method of making the same in which sheet steel is utilized to form the essential working elements of the agitator.

It is among the objects of my invention to pro-\ vide an agitator having a base and outstanding blades in which the base and blades are separately formed and are so secured to the base and to each other and the finished article so covered the blades are connected to each other at their lower edges through the medium of the base and are connected at their upper edges by .a'sheet metal plate generally parallel to the base and in whichthe base is centrally apertured to receive a cast metalsocket or adapter portion suited to mount the agitator on an oscillating agitator shaft.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an agitator according to the preceding object in which a tube is secured to the socket or adapter portion and extends upwardly therefrom to the upper edges of the agitator blades in a manner to prevent clothes or the likefrom enter- 7 ing between the adjacent edges of the agitator blades.

with porcelain enamel that the finished article will be resistant to temperature conditions, the detergents employed and to the stresses set up by the operation of the agitator and will thus achieve the. advantages characteristic of a cast 1 metal agitator.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a sheet metal agitator in accordance with the preceding object in which the bladesjare seagainst temperature and moisture conditions.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an agitator having a sheet metal base and It is a further object of my invention to provide an agitator according to the preceding objects in which the socket or adapter pcrtionon the upper surface of the base includes ribs or the like which are effective to prevent clothes from entering the juncture between the blades at the lower edge and the base.

It is a further object of my invention to provide the agitator base with radial depressions designed to cooperate with the lower edges of the blades in -a manner to facilitate theporcelain enameling process and to effectively prevent a cracking of the enamel due .to deflections occurring in the blade when in operation.

' It is a further object of my invention to provide a sheet metal agitator having a .base and blades wherein the base and blade portions are progressively drawn from a single piece of metal.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an agitator having a plurality of drawn sheet metal sections wherein each sheet metal section comprises a. sector of the base and one half of each of two adjacent blade's.

Further objects and advantages relating to economies of manufacture. simplicity-in construction and long life'will'appear from the following description and the appended -drawings.'

inwhich: I

. Figure 1 is a perspective. view of a preferred Figure 3 is ase'ctional view taken on line 3-4 p 01' 3;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; I

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line i5 of Fig. 3;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic showing of the various positions occupied by the socket or adapter portion during its assembly with the base;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a cone resulting'from the first forming step in making the drawn sheet metal agitator shown in Fig.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the agitator blank showing thestep following the step of Fig. "I;

Figure 9 is an elevation of the agitator blank showing the step following that of Fig. 8;

Figure 10 is an elevation, partly in section, 0 the drawn sheet metal agitator as provided with a center post extension and as mounted in a machine;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a sector of a modified form of multi-part agitator;

Figure l2 is an elevation partly in section showing a sheet metal agitator formed by the assembly of three sectors such as shown in Fig. 11; I

Figure 13 is a plan view'with parts in section showing the agitator of Fig. 12;

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 14- ofFig. 12;

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken on the plane l3'--I3of Fig. 12;

Figure 16 is a plan view of a modified form of agitator made of three sectors;

Figure 17 is a perspective view of anagitator similar to the preferred form of Fig. 1 having integrally formed center post sectors;

Figure 18 is a plan view showing the juncture betweenthe blades of the agitator;

Figure 19 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the plane indicated at l9l9 of Fig. 17; and

Figure 20 is a cap portion covering theupper edges'of the agitator and providing means for attaching the agitator to an agitator shaft.

Referring to the drawings, the preferred form of my invention comprises an agitator such as shown in Fig. 1, having a sheet metal, conical base C. The base is provided with 8. rolled bead or flange I at its periphery and iscentrally aperthat during the enanieling process, the molten glass will flow satisfactorily so as to cover all welds and edges to protect the same against the moisture and detergents. During operation of the agitator there is some slight deflection of the blades 9 and by joining the blade to the base according to my invention, the porcelain enamel will not crack at the juncture between the base and the blade.

Referring particularly to Fig. 5, it will be observed that the depression 8 extending radially of the base is slightly wider than the flange ID at the bottom edge ofthe blade 9 so that the molten glass will not bridge the gap between the edges of the flange and the upper surface of the base. This arrangement provides a coating of porcelain enamel of substantially uniform thickness over all of the exposed surfaces around the juncture between the blades and base and the cracking of the enamel is thereby eliminated.

The slight deflection in the blade 9 due to impact against the clothes and water during operation, may be accommodated by the curve in the bend indicated at 9:1. The character of the curve or bend at 9a is such that there is no substantial accumulation of porcelain between the held in their assembled relation as shown best tured to receive a socket or adapter assembly.

formed (see Fig. 24) by turningthe stock upwardly out of the plate to form ears II, which ears are welded. asshown, to the tabs II on the blade. The flanges II are suitably spot welded tothebaseiand thedepressionlinthe area of the welded flange is ofa depth to bring the upper surface of the flange ll into the. same conical surface as the base I. This assembly comprising five parts welded to form a unit, may

sheet steel and the unit is then porcelain enameled. The 'enameling may be carried out in the usual way bythe spraying of fritand the burning of the unit in an enameling oven.

bend at 90 and the upper surface of the base 8. Thus the normal operating loads on the agitator are ineffective to break the porcelain bond which covers all of the exposed surfaces substantially uniformly. 1

Those familiar with the porcelain enameling art will appreciate that any method of joining the base to the blades which would permit a cracking of the porcelain enameling at this point, would render the agitator impractical because the-water and detergents would attack the exposed metal and bring about the formation of rust which would soil the clothes and destroy the utility of the agitator.

The socket or adapter comprises a lower portion l5, which has a maximum diameter exceedthrough the aperture and a retaining shoulder portion l8 which telescopes over the said projecting stem. The two portions l5 and ii are in Fig. 2 by screws l'l extending upwardly through holes around the periphery of the base i aperture and into threaded openings in the porbe made up of relatively inexpensive light gage I have found that the Joining of the blades to Y the base in the manner above described to be particularly well suited to porcelain enameling and tion Ii. Suitable gasket material I! is clamped between the upper and lower portions II and It and the clamping effect through the gasket material, combined with the fastening screws I1, is effective, to transmit the torque of the agitator shaft I! to the .base 0 without chipping or flexing the base structure.

A tube fl, preferably formed of brassor of plated ferrous metal, extends substantially the full height of the agitator and is anchored at its lower-end by threaded engagement with the stem of the socket or adapter member. At the upper end of the tube Ill it projectsthrough an aperture centrally formed in the Plate l3, thence through a rubber block 2i and through a cover plate 22. The upper end of the tube 2| is threaded to receive a clamping nut 24 which.

serves to draw the cover plate downwardly and compress'the rubber block 2| between the plates 22 and IS. A large cupped washer II is arranged inthe extreme end of the tube and an elongated agitator screw 28 extends downwardly through the tube. 2. and into the top of the agitator shaft l3 so as to securely hold the entire assembly on the agitator shaft l9.

The body of the portion l6 of the socket member has a diameter corresponding to the space 1 provided by the dihedral angle opening between the blades adjacent the base. This diameter or distance is indicated at X in Fig. 6. It is obvious that the portion l5 of the socket must be inserted through this dihedral angle opening, before the stem portion of the member I5 is projected upwardly through the base during assembly. To prevent threads or portions of the clothes being washed from entering the space between the portion IB- and the edges of the blades 9, the member "5 is provided with ribs 28 which correspond in number to'the number of blades.

In order to position the portion IE,- it is -neces-' sary to advance the portion through the dihedral opening as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 6.,

The member I6 is shown in full lines in its initial position A; that is, where one of the ribs 28 is in engagement with the adjacent face of one of 'the blades 9. From this position the portion l6 may-be rotated (but not shifted laterally) to the dotted line position B and this leaves but one of the ribs outside of the dihedral angle.

which do not require a blade having substantial vertical extent, the agitator may be drawn of sheet steel and the base and blades formed as a unitary structure. This is effected according to my invention by taking a single sheet of metal and first The last described operation results in a conical base 43, a tubular section 44 and the integrally formed blades 45.

tubular section 41 welded to the blank 42. I Then a disc 48 is welded at 4!! inside of the base portion of the agitator which disc is suitably apertured to receive the stem of an adapter .50 and is provided with holes around the aperture to re- I ceive the bolts or like fasteners 5|.

The portion I6 is then advanced to the position C where one of the ribs 28 is against the edge of a blade 9. This position is indicated in the dot and dash line C of Fig. 6. From this lastnamed position-the portion It may be shifted laterally and rotated to bring the ribs 28 into coplanar position with the blades 9 and thus close the dihedral opening. The screws l'l may then be inserted and drawn up to lock the parts in proper position. The parts are shown in their proper assembled position in Fig. 4. p

That form of the agitator shown in Figs. 17 to 20 corresponds to the preferred form of Fig. 1

in the mounting of the blades on the base. In the modification of Fig. 1'7, the base 30 is also radially depressed at intervals to receive the flange 3| of blade 32. In this modification, however, the tube heretofore provided to prevent clothes from entering the juncture between the blades is eliminated by the use of integrally formed sectors 33 on the blade. The sectors are bent out .of the plane of the blade into an arcuate curve of about 120 degrees and are then formed as at 34 to become coplaner with an adjacent blade 32. The opening in the dihedralangle between the blades at their juncture with the base is preferably closed with a socket or adaptererably covered by a cap member 36 and suitable gasket material 31 is inserted between the cap and the upper edges of the blades 32. It will be understood that the modification of Fig. 1'7 possesses the advantages of the preferred form with respect to the porcelain enameling and the distribution of the loadsand flexure during operation.

In certain forms of agitators, particularly those Prior to the assembly of the agitator on the socket or adapter 50, the entire unit is porcelain enameled so as to render the same resistant totemperature and moisture conditions occurring during operation with the socket member 50 attached to the disc 48 at the underside of the agitator. The porcelain enameled unit may be assembled on an agitator shaft 52 and retained thereon by a screw 53 extending downwardly through an agitator cap 54;

The foregoing description has covered the method of making multi-part agitators of sheet metal having relatively high blade structures and also the one-piece drawn sheet metal porcelain agitator having relatively low agitator blades.

According to my invention, an agitator intermediate said high and low blade types may be formed by the combination of-the two steps; namely deep drawing and welding. I have shown such modifications in Figs. 11 to 16. inclusive.

edges of the three sectors are welded to each other and the welded assembly then porcelain-enameled throughout. Figs. 11 to 15, inclusive, show sectors having inturned flanges adapted to besecured to each other prior to porcelain-enameling, wheres as Fig. 16 shows a similar construction wherein the mating edges abut each other so as to provide for a butt-welded joint between the sectors. The sectors in the form of Fig. 16 are indicated at 8011. The welded unit made up of three sectors is preferably provided with a sheet metal conical base whichiswelded along its periphery to Th base65 is centrally apertured and is provided with a-socket member 66 adapted to flt the upper end of an agitator shaft 61. .-The upper end of the agitator is provided with a cap' 63 apertured to receive an agitator screw 69 which extends downwardl to the agitator shaft and holds the unit in fixed position on the shaft. e

Although I have described a preferred form and modified forms of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that numerous modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of they invention as defined in the following claims. 1

The apex of the blank may then be cut off on .the line indicated at1'46 and a Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1'. An agitator comprising a sheet metal, conical base, a plurality of sheet metal blades, each blade having a greater radial extent at the bottom than at the top, means to secure the bottom portions of said blade to said base comprising a flange normal to the plane of the blade welded to said base, means to secure the top portions of said blades to each other comprising integral tabs coplanar with the blades, a disc apertured to receive the tab on each blade and secured to said tab and a porcelain enameled covering for said base, blades and connecting means.

2. An agitator comprising a centrally apertured sheet metal base, a plurality of flat sheet metal blades having flanges at their lower edges, radially extending depressions formed in said base proportioned to receive said flanges, a plate joining said blades to each other at the upper edges of the blades, a cast metal socket member secured in the central aperture of said base, said socket member having an opening on the under side -thereof to receive an agitator shaft and an agitator screw to secure the agitator to the shaft extending downwardly through said plate,

through said socket and into said agitator shaft.

3. An agitator comprising a conical sheet metal base having radial depressions extending from the center thereof substantially to the periphery,

, a plurality of upstanding blades, means to secure said blades in said depressions comprising integrally formed flanges on the lower edges of the blade, a weld bonding said flanges to said base and a porcelain ename1 coating of substantially uniform thickness covering saidblades, base and flanges.

4. An agitator comprising a conical base having radially extending depressions on the upper surface thereof, upstanding blades mounted on said base having oflset flanges along the lower edges thereof, said flanges arranged in said depressions and spaced slightly from the edges thereof, a porcelain enamel coating of substantially uniform thickness covering the said base, blades, flanges and the juncture between the edges of said flanges and the surface of said conical base.

5. An agitator comprising a conical sheet metal 1 base, radially extending depressions forming said upwardly projecting stem, the other part of said socket member apertured to receive said stem and having a diameter exceeding. the diameter of the aperture in said base and means connecting the two parts of said socket member to clamp the base therebetween.

6. An agitator comprising a sheet metal base, an agitator shaft socket therefor, comprising upper and lower portions clamping the base therebetween, a plurality of sheet metal blades secured to the upper surface of said base, the lower edges of said blades adjacent the center of the base being cut away to receive the upper portion of said socket member, said upper portion having ribs thereon and adapted to be moved to bring said ribs co-planar with said blades to prevent clothes from entering the space between the socket member and the cut-away portion of the blade.

7. Anagitator comprising a conical sheet metal base having radially-extending depressions on the upper surface thereof, a socket receiving aperture formed centrally of the base, upstanding blades having flanges along their lower edges welded in said depressions, a socket member having upper and lower parts arranged to clamp said base around said aperture, the lower part of said socket member having a tapered opening adapted to receive an agitator shaft at its lower side and having a cylindrical opening at its upper side, said blades having vertical edges spaced from each other above said socket member and a vertical tube proportioned to fill the space between the vertical edges of adjacent blades mounted in said cylindrical opening of said socket member and means within the tube to anchor the agitatorassembly to an agitator shaft.

8. An agitator comprising a conical sheet metal base having radially extending flat-bottomed depressions formed therein, a plurality of upright sheet metal blades mounted on said base, means to secure the blades to the base comprising integ'rally formed flanges on the lower edge of the blades, said flanges bonded by a weld to said base in the bottom of said depressions, said flan es having a width less than the width of the radially extending depressions and a porcelain enamel covering for said blades and base, said covering. having a thickness characteristic so that. itis insufficient to bridge the gap with porcelain between the upper surface of the flanges and the upper surface of the base whereby the connection between the base and blades is resistant to porcelain cracking failure at the juncture between the base and blades.

PAUL E. 

